Young Guns Box Set

by Kane, Remington

  Cody still wore his hair long and was dressed in a leather jacket and jeans, while Romeo wore a designer suit.

  When the three jeeps converged on them from different directions they knew that the Citadel’s guards had finished patrolling the area and were satisfied that they had come there alone. It was Begley’s jeep that reached them first. He was sitting in the passenger seat while Serge drove. Begley looked the boys over with dispassionate eyes. In his right hand he was holding a revolver, which he kept from view.

  “Denny Haydon, my name is Begley and I’m the Captain of the Guard for the Citadel. Sir, I’ll need you and your bodyguard to discard any weapons you may have on you. That includes knives, brass knuckles, or anything else that could be deemed dangerous.”

  “Why can’t I bring my gun with me?” Cody asked. “How am I supposed to protect Denny if I don’t have a gun?”

  “From this point forward, Mr. Haydon’s safety is my responsibility. Frankly, I don’t know why he wasted the money it takes to get you inside the Citadel. If he were attacked, one man wouldn’t be enough to help him.”

  “That depends on the man,” Cody said.

  Begley sent Cody a sour look, then spoke to Romeo. “If you refuse to discard your weapons I can’t let you inside the facility. That is not up for debate. What will it be?”

  Romeo sighed as he slowly removed his gun from the holster on his belt.

  “Leave your guns behind, Max. We wouldn’t last another day out on the streets.”

  Cody’s mouth became a tight grim line as he pretended to bristle over the order to disarm. In truth, he’d been expecting it. After a hesitation, he removed two guns from his person, along with a knife.

  “A wise decision,” Begley said. “Now I’ll have to ask you to consent to a pat-down. We have to make certain that you have no more weapons. Your belongings will also be searched.”

  Romeo was found to be clean, but a hidden blade was discovered inside Cody’s right boot.

  “Hmm,” Cody said. “I guess I forgot I had that one.”

  Begley’s stare was icy as he spoke again.

  “You can climb in the rear of the jeep now.”

  The boys did so as one of the guards gathered their weapons. When they saw that the camera and lock picks had gone undetected, they knew that they had done a good job of hiding them. They’d hidden the equipment inside a compartment at the bottom of one of the bags. During the pat-down, the razor blades hidden on the inside of their belts had also been missed. It was nice to know that the Citadel’s guards weren’t the elite force many thought them to be.

  After settling together into the rear of a jeep they were off toward the trees. There, they met up with a dirt path so narrow that the vehicles had to slow considerably or else risk scraping the trees that lined the narrow road.

  In time, they emerged out onto a broader surface that was paved, and only seconds later the walls of the Citadel came into view.

  Even from a short distance away the walls looked like a natural rock formation. As you came closer, you saw that mortar and stones had been added to fill in gaps.

  As they approached a massive iron gate, Cody and Romeo shared a look, as they anticipated their entry inside the Citadel. Whatever came after that, they would still have achieved something that no other assassin had ever done.

  The gate opened to let them inside a parking area paved with concrete, while revealing a second gate as formidable as the first. Incredibly, a third gate materialized, it too appeared impregnable. The fact that there were three gates was a surprise, as Hutchins had information that there were only two gates.

  If anyone had ever attacked the gates while prepared to breach only two, they would have received a nasty surprise and met death. Realizing that, Cody remembered something Spenser had often told them.

  “Information can be worth more than ammo, and be just as deadly.”

  It was true. Cody made a mental note to do more preparation and make less assumptions in the future.

  At last the gates were behind them and the jeep was moving down a spiraling concrete ramp. They were headed into the belly of the Citadel and on the threshold of stepping into legend.

  * * *

  Begley and Serge had escorted the boys to Abadandi’s office. As he was leaving, Begley gave Cody a look that spoke of his dislike for him. Cody answered it in kind and wasn’t faking. Something about Begley rubbed him the wrong way. If it became necessary, he would have no problem putting the Captain of the Guard down.

  After receiving his payment, Abadandi got right to business, and displayed surprise at Romeo’s modest request for assistance.

  “You only wish to get into Canada?”

  “Yeah, see, I couldn’t risk driving or flying there on my own. The cartel would be looking for me at the border crossings and airports. Plus, we need new I.D.’s and passports. I’ve got family in Canada that no one knows about; they go by a different name than I do. Once we make it there, Max and I will be safe.”

  “Why didn’t you arrange for the new identification on your own?”

  Romeo grinned. “I didn’t plan any of this, I just got greedy and decided to grab as much cash as I could. Most of the money I stole has already been shipped to my relatives. I hid it inside a pair of giant teddy bears I said were for my niece. The kid is only six-months-old. Now I’ve got to get there to make sure I keep getting older.”

  “And you don’t require plastic surgery either?”

  Romeo smiled. “And mess up my pretty face, hell no. And hey, are there any women here?”

  “Several, but they’re spoken for.”

  “Damn, I hope it doesn’t take you long to get my new I.D. and a way out of the country. I’ll climb the walls if I have to go without a woman for weeks.”

  “There is a large supply of pornographic tapes and magazines available.”

  Romeo sent Abadandi a frown. “I’m not a do-it-yourself kind of guy.”

  “I’ll attempt to make your arrangements swiftly, and of course, I already have the contacts in place.”

  * * *

  Romeo requested a tour of the facility and Begley was called back to do the honors. He arrived with four of his men, as they had been together and making plans. Supplies were running low and it was time to take an inventory and ready the empty crates for pick-up. Days later, the crates would be returned via an airdrop.

  They would also be leaving a jeep at the pick-up site. In one of the few conversations they’d had lately, Ann had informed her husband that their oldest jeep was no longer worth fixing because it would be cheaper to purchase a used one.

  In a rare show of good sense and wise spending, Abadandi agreed with her and said he would authorize the purchase, while using the old jeep as a trade-in. Begley thought it was Abadandi’s way of trying to appease Ann so that she would be less resentful toward him.

  He knew the older man had a thing for his wife, and even though Abadandi knew that Ann must hate him, he still harbored that secret hope that all men have about the beautiful women they know.

  Maybe someday we’ll get together.

  Fat chance of that, Begley knew, if Ann thought she could get away with it, she might murder Abadandi in his sleep.

  * * *

  Begley could have left his men behind and given the tour alone, but he wanted a show of force to make the newest client realize that he didn’t need his bodyguard. Begley shared the natural dislike and antagonism Cody felt toward him. He had also been in a foul mood for days because of the way things were between him and Ann.

  Guilt was eating away at Begley as well. He regretted the kiss he’d shared with Irina, while at the same time he fought the urge to visit her in her quarters. Ann withholding her affection from him had made Begley want Irina more than ever. For her part, Irina was growing weary of Begley’s indecision. In their last conversation, she told Begley that she wouldn’t keep chasing after him forever, and that she knew he and Ann were on the outs.

  “Leave her
, Jack. If you do, I’ll stop seeing Abadandi and we can be together like a real couple.”

  The offer was tempting, but Jack still loved his wife and was not ready to let go.

  * * *

  Irina appeared as Begley and the others entered a wide intersection in the corridor. Begley had been headed toward one of the tunnel exits with the boys, as part of their tour. When Irina spotted Cody, desire lit her eyes and she sent him a smile.

  “Who do we have here, new guests?”

  Begley made the introductions brief as Irina moved closer to Cody and stared up at him.

  “You have unusual eyes, Max, and they’re very sexy.”

  “Everything about you is sexy, Irina,” Cody said.

  “Shouldn’t you be in the infirmary, Irina?” Begley asked, in a tone that conveyed the anger he was feeling.

  Irina smiled at him. “I know I’m wanted somewhere.” Before leaving, she ran a hand over Cody’s right bicep. “You could guard me anytime, Max.”

  Begley watched her go, while thinking that the sway in her hips seemed more pronounced than normal. He wondered if it was for his enjoyment or for Denny Haydon’s bodyguard. As he felt his anger growing, Begley asked Cody a question.

  “I suppose you feel rather useless right now, hmm?”

  “Why would you think that?” Cody asked him.

  “You’re a bodyguard, right? But you have no weapons. If anyone wanted to harm your boss you’d be about as useful as tits on a nun.”

  Cody smiled. “I don’t need a weapon to be dangerous.”

  Begley gestured toward the four guards who had been tagging along.

  “You might hold your own against one man, but if these men were to attack you together, you wouldn’t stand a chance.”

  Cody narrowed his eyes. “What’s your problem, Begley? Is Irina your girl and you’re angry that she was flirting, is that it?”

  “I’m a married man, no, my problem is you. I don’t like you, and I think your boss wasted his money bringing you along.”

  “It was my money to waste,” Romeo said. “But you’re wrong if you think Max can’t protect me. Even unarmed he could fight off several men.”

  Begley smiled. “I’ll let him prove that.” He turned toward his men and gave them the order to attack Cody. “But don’t hurt him, just take him down to the floor and cuff his hands behind him.”

  “What the hell, dude,” Romeo said. “Is this how you treat your guests?”

  Begley ignored him, then gestured at Cody. The first guard to reach Cody yelped in pain as a kick smashed into his right knee. That was followed by a strike to the face using an elbow. It broke the man’s nose and sent blood running down the front of his gray uniform shirt.

  The remaining three guards came at Cody together. He used a turning side kick to send one of the men stumbling back against another, then struck the remaining man in the throat. The man he’d kicked went down while the other two backed away.

  Cody pointed at them as he issued a warning. “The next man who comes at me will regret it.”

  The guard who had been knocked off balance had six inches and thirty pounds of muscle on Cody. His name was O’Keefe. He smirked as he strode forward while leading with his left fist extended. Cody reached out and gripped O’Keefe’s wrist in both hands faster than the eye could follow. He then sent a series of three hard kicks into the man’s exposed ribs.

  There was an audible snapping sound as one of the ribs broke, followed by a cry of pain. When Cody released O’Keefe’s wrist and moved in to cause more damage, Begley shouted for him to stop.

  Cody did so, while issuing a challenge.

  “Hey, Captain of the Guard, why don’t you take a shot at me?”

  Begley reddened with anger, as he would like nothing better than to beat Cody bloody. Good sense kept him from accepting the offer. Instead, he turned to his men and told them to go see the doctor. Along with O’Keefe’s broken rib, another man had a busted nose, while the third man was breathing with raspy exhales from the blow he’d taken to the throat.

  As his men lumbered away, Romeo made an observation.

  “I think the Citadel needs better security. If two men like Max ever got in here, you’d be in trouble.”

  Begley pretended to ignore the comment. As for Cody, he had to fight to keep from smiling.

  Romeo was telling him that they had this contract in the bag, and Cody had to agree. Still, they both knew enough not to get overconfident, as the unexpected was always around the next corner.

  53

  Accidentally On Purpose

  THE BRONX, OCTOBER 2018

  After getting wounded in the thigh the night he killed Officer Jude Collins, Jerold Washington stole an ambulance, then used its supplies to treat his wound.

  Jerold kept the ambulance and used it to get around in. With his money running low and with nowhere to hide, he robbed a liquor store.

  He thought he had gotten away clean until he saw the flashing lights in his side-view mirrors. Two police cars were coming up fast behind him.

  Jerold put his own siren on and pressed down the gas pedal on the ambulance, then had to slow as he made a left onto Webster Avenue. He was so intent on checking his mirrors that he didn’t see the blind man crossing the street in front of him.

  Another driver blew her horn at Jerold as she hoped to prevent a tragedy. When Jerold took his eyes from the mirrors and saw the old man only yards in front of him, he jerked the wheel to the left. He succeeded in missing the blind man but plowed into a delivery van.

  His skull’s impact with the windshield stunned him, but he managed to stay conscious long enough to leap from the ambulance, which had stopped running. Jerold made it six steps before his vision blurred and he fell onto the street, unconscious.

  * * *

  Detective Rayna Owens arrived on scene after it was determined that the ambulance thief was also the man accused of killing Officer Collins and Detective Pearson. Jerold was awake and strapped to a gurney inside a different ambulance, while paramedics checked his vital signs.

  “Please tell me he’s going to die,” Rayna said to the lone detective on the scene.

  “No such luck. He just banged his head during the crash.”

  Rayna stared into the ambulance as she fought the urge to draw her weapon and empty it into Jerold.

  “Can you keep him here for a while?”

  “Um, I guess, why?”

  “I have an idea.”

  The cop looked at Jerold, then at Rayna. “I want him dead too, but I’m not losing my badge over it.”

  “Let me tell you what I’m thinking, and you see if you can live with it.”

  Rayna explained her plan, and the cop grinned.

  “That would work. There will be a little heat, but not enough to matter. But what if we don’t find the other guy?”

  “We’ll find him, but it might take a while.”

  “I can give you two hours; after that I’ll have to take him in.”

  * * *

  Ninety-three minutes later, a crackhead by the name of Jared Washington was booked on a vagrancy charge at the same time as Jerold Washington and in the same Bronx police station. Jared, who was a foot shorter than Jerold and three shades lighter, was placed in a cell by himself, while Jerold was shoved in a large cell with the general population.

  The word was put out, and within an hour two members of the Boulevard Bloods were arrested for the minor crime of graffiti and charged with vandalism. They were then escorted to the cell where Jerold was lying on a cot.

  Jerold died on that cot.

  Although there were nine other men inside the cell when Jerold had his throat cut, every one of them denied having witnessed a thing. No weapon had been recovered and no one had yet been charged. The two gangbangers were released that evening on their own recognizance after appearing before a judge. The dried blood on their black clothing either went unnoticed or was believed to be food stains. Their identities were later found to be
phony.

  A police department spokesman, who had also gone through the academy with Det. Scott Pearson, told reporters that a clerical error was responsible for the mix-up. Jerold Washington was supposed to have been given a cell alone, not Jared Washington.

  When asked if an investigation would be pursued, the police spokesman answered in a snide manner.

  “Yeah, we’ll get to that right after we bury the two dead cops that Washington killed.”

  Standing at the back of the room where the media conference was being held, Rayna Owens smiled.

  54

  With A Bang

  OUTSIDE PORTLAND, OREGON, JANUARY 2003

  Kabell was snoring away after having indulged in more of his meditation potion.

  Ann had taken over the task of clearing away the dishes from the suite so that she could spend time with Cindy, to gain the girl’s trust.

  Unfortunately, it also meant she had to come into contact with Kabell. The man’s eyes had startled Ann. She had only seen him from several feet away upon his arrival. Ann had taken from that encounter the impression that he was an average, if tall man. Up close and with his attention riveted on you, the man gave off a sense of great personal power. It was his eyes. Kabell had a way of looking at you that made you feel his presence intently. That gaze was imposing, imperial even, and Ann understood how those with weak or immature minds could have bought into Kabell’s God act.

  Ann was not weak or immature and she was aware that the man was in reality a depraved predator. It was all she could do to hide her disgust from Kabell.

  He had deepened her distaste for him during that first meeting when he asked her to bed, then after being told no, offered her money. All the other times, Kabell had been passed out from drinking too much.